Chapter 2

I suddenly remembered standing like that when I'd broken a cup as a small child.

Too frightened to look at the pieces.

Thinking that if I went and did something else first, no one would find out.

My aunt took a step back.

Then another.

She changed the video she was about to post to a scheduled upload. Her finger tapped the wrong place several times.

Mom called again.

She didn't answer right away.

Only when the ringing was about to stop did she pick up.

"What time will you get in tomorrow evening? I'll start dinner."

Her voice was gentle again.

"I'll tell you when we arrive," Mom said.

My aunt wanted to say more, but Mom had hung up.

She stood in the middle of the living room, turned around twice, then switched on the television.

The sound filled the room.

She didn't sleep beside my door.

She turned on every living-room light and curled up in the farthest corner of the sofa, hugging her knees.

This time, she really did stay awake all night.

Chapter 4

4

On Friday morning, a key turned in the front door.

My aunt jumped up from the sofa.

Dad pulled a suitcase behind him. Mom stood at his back, her eyes bloodshot from staying up.

"Weren't you coming tonight?"

"We changed to an overnight train."

Mom came inside, searching for me.

"Where's An'an?"

My aunt raised an arm to stop her.

"Still asleep. Sit down. I'll get you some water."

Mom didn't sit.

She put her handbag on the dining table. A small clear box peeked out.

Inside were two star-shaped hair clips.

Before she left, I'd seen ones just like them at the mall.

Press the star, and a little light inside came on.

Mom had been in a hurry that day. She'd said she'd buy them when she came home.

I went closer to see whether they were the yellow ones I liked.

My hand passed through.

My aunt busied herself pouring water.

The cups clinked together.

Dad saw the takeaway containers piled beside the sofa.

Half a box of shrimp.

Two cake bases.

And my rabbit bowl.

"She's sick, and you're feeding her this?"

"It wasn't for her. I…"

Mom didn't speak to her.

She went straight to my door.

"An'an, Mommy's home."

She knocked twice.

I stood beside her and answered.

"Mommy."

She couldn't hear.

"I bought your little stars. Open the door and have a look."

She took out the box and switched on one of the clips.

No answer from inside.

Her smile slowly faded.

She pressed down the handle and pushed.

The door didn't move.

My aunt hurried over.

"She's locked herself in. Don't worry. She's been sulking with me for two days…"

Dad had come up beside her.

He looked down and saw the silver bolt on the doorframe.

A small padlock hung from it.

His hand stopped in midair.

"Locked herself in?"

My aunt opened her mouth.

Mom saw it too.

She touched the padlock.

Then looked at my aunt.

"Chen Yan. You locked her inside?"

"I was afraid she'd wander around at night. She had a fever and wouldn't sleep…"

Mom banged on the door.

"An'an!"

"Answer me!"

I pressed close to her.

"Mommy, I'm here."

"I didn't wander around."

Dad grabbed the lock and pulled.

Metal rattled.

"Where's the key?"

My aunt felt in her pockets, then rummaged through the handbag on the coffee table.

Lipsticks and tissues spilled onto the floor.

"I'm sure I put it…"

"The key!"

Dad's voice had changed.

I'd never heard him shout like that.

Mom could barely hold her phone.

She called an ambulance and gave our address.

"An eight-year-old child. Locked in her room. Not responding."

She paused, then added quickly, "She's had a fever. I don't know her temperature now. We still can't get the door open…"

My aunt suddenly said, "Maybe she's just sleeping deeply."

Mom stared at her.

Her eyes were red.

She didn't say a word.

Dad stepped back.

The first blow shook white dust from the frame.

Mom gripped the phone and moved aside.

"An'an, get away from the door."

She spoke quickly and softly.

"Daddy's going to break it open. Stand back. Can you hear me?"

At the second blow, the wood beside the bolt split.

The door opened inward a little.

Then stopped.

Mom began to cry.

She didn't know what was blocking it. Frantically, she reached through the gap.

"An'an, don't hold the door shut."

"I won't scold you. Let me in."

Dad suddenly caught her wrist.

He looked down.

Through the gap, they could see one of Huang's ears.

And my hand.

Dad stopped pushing.

Mom held the hair clip and stared at him.

The little star still blinked.

"Chen Ming?"

"What's wrong with An'an?"

Chapter 5

5

Dad crouched.

He turned sideways, reached through the gap, and gently moved what lay behind the door.

Mom looked down too.

The hair clips fell from her hand.

The plastic box hit the floor and sprang open.

One little star rolled to Dad's feet.

"An'an?"

Mom slipped into the room and knelt beside me.

"Why are you sleeping on the floor?"

She touched my face.

Her hand stopped.

Then she touched my neck.

My arm.

Held her hand beneath my nose.

"Chen Ming."